1985 Longtime fest director Wayne Clarkson ankles to become head of the Ontario Film Development Corp.

1986 Vancouver Intl. Film Festival founder Leonard Schein takes over as fest director, resigns after just one edition in the top job. Deputy festival director Helga Stephenson is named festival director.

1987 First signs of a new wave of Canadian cinema emerge with premieres at the festival of Patricia Rozema’s “I’ve Heard the Mermaids Singing” and Jean-Claude Lauzon’s “Un Zoo, La Nuit.”

1989 Michael Moore’s indie documentary “Roger and Me” prompts a bidding war, wins the People’s Choice Award as most popular film at the festival and goes on to nab a $3 million deal with Warner Bros.

Toronto helmer Bruce McDonald’s black-and-white rock ‘n’ roll comedy “Roadkill” takes the C$25,000 ($17,000) prize for best Canadian film. In his acceptance speech, McDonald memorably says he’s going to use the cash to buy a big hunk of hash.

1994 British helmer Antonia Bird’s “Priest,” a controversial tale of a gay Catholic priest, creates a sensation, wins the People’s Choice Award and is bought by Miramax.

1997 Robert Duvall’s “The Apostle” is sold to October Films for $5 million, the biggest deal ever to come out of the festival. Halifax writer-director Thom Fitzgerald’s feature debut, “The Hanging Garden,” opens Perspective Canada and is sold to MGM.